Come to the Table

A lovely table; it is the symbol of having a special place of welcome,  comfort and joy.  It is a picture of hospitality, it is a place of fellowship, and if peace and harmony are at the head of the table, it is a sweet and  wonderful place to be.  All through History, our Heavenly Father has welcomed those who will come to His table;  if we "would" come.  In the same way we desire to be with the ones we love,  He desires to be with us.   In Matthew 22: 1-14, Jesus tells the parable of the king who gave a feast for his son and called the invited to come to the feast he had prepared... but they would not come, and so He invited others...  In Revelation, He has prepared a feast for us, and we, again, are all invited, if we will just answer the invitation.  He is our gracious Host our wonderful example of love and welcome, of invitation and hospitality all we need do is respond.

I love to set a pretty table.  For  for special celebrations, I usually prepare and decorate my table a day or two ahead, because if I don't prepare ahead, it becomes a  burden  that piles up and overwhelms me.  Its the creative "preparation" I enjoy, so I set aside the time for that.    Just think that  Jesus also, is  "preparing" for us.  He went to prepare a place for us, and that at the right time, He will come and receive us to Him.  He also has taken great delight in preparing a table and a home for us.

This year for the Easter/Resurrection Sunday, our celebration was smaller than it has been in times past.  But it was very sweet, and precious.  I enjoyed decorating and cooking for Steve, Eddie, my friend Roxy (whose husband had to work that day) and myself.  Because of the Holiday, I have had table settings on my mind;  I like to collect table settings on Pinterest, and love to see them in magazines and blogs.  My Mom, my Mother in law, and my friend Barbara  have always set the loveliest tables that inspired me; So, I wanted to start a little  collection here of "Table Settings" to share with you as well.

As I was in the process of writing this post, I was popping in and catching up with blogging friends, and saw that Ann on Eight Acres of Eden also did a post on her Holiday table, so I am going to link her today, because it was such a great post and I thought you would really be blessed by it.

My Mom and my girls and I have a love for dishes of all sorts; especially blue dishes.

 This platter came from England.  My Mom got it there when we lived there years ago;  I was a little girl, at that time.   She has allowed me to enjoy many of  her dishes and her lovely silverware.

This is an old picture I took when I was getting ready to clean my silver several years ago.  I have silverware from my Mom and my Grandma Flossie.  It is one of my favorite things.

These blue dishes are dishes that Mom and Dad got for their wedding.  

Little additions make a pretty table.

    Remember that even though the days are sometimes dark and difficult,  He promised to
"Prepare a table for us....."

     

   "You  prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

Psalm 23:5

He has Risen

"He is not here;  He is risen,  just as He said...."  Matt. 28:6

Have a Blessed Day

Vintage Picnic

Steve had spring fever today, and surprised me with a ride in "Ol' Blue" and a wonderful picnic that he had made.   It has been warmer this week and the snow has melted away.... for today.... We heard the meadow lark sing yesterday, which seemed to us all the beckoning we needed to get outside for a bit and enjoy the sunshine.  I took some pictures (mostly of Ol' Blue) ; they had such a cozy, vintage feel to them I thought I would share them with you.

Love him....

Paper Butterflies

               This is an easy Springtime craft that only requires paper and stencil, scissors and glue.
Sewing machine and grapevine wreath is optional.

Supplies

Paper: 

Scrapbook paper, old sheet music, old newspaper or magazines (find the colors you like). 

Butterfly stencil

Scissors

Glue

Grapevine Wreath

Use a stencil to create  a variety of butterflies.  You can use a scrapbooking paper punch if you have one; It is more consistent in its cutting perfection and is quicker to use, but the stencil has a variety of butterflies, which is nice.

 Draw your butterflies on the backside of the paper

 I used scrapbooking paper, but you could use any paper that had a pattern;

old sheet music, newspaper, magazine old books.

  Cut out all of your butterflies.

 Pick out and match up butterfly shapes

Glue them together. (wrong sides together)

 I like matching up two colors, then you have a different color on each side.

Press both pieces together, smoothing all sides and edges.  Allow to dry.

You may have edges that don't match. Once the glue is dried, Trim the white off of the areas that don't match.  Bend the butterfly wings like a real butterfly.

 You can run them through a sewing machine to create a banner.

I sewed them in every direction to create a hodgepodge of shapes and directions as they hang.

 You can also glue them onto a grapevine wreath.

To create a soft and pretty springtime decoration for your door.

Happy Springtime